Themed collection Artificial photosynthesis
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List of participants
Poster list
Spiers Memorial Lecture
A brief introduction into artificial photosynthesis technologies is presented.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 9-14
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD90025J
Artificial photosynthesis – concluding remarks
This paper follows on from the Concluding Remarks presentation of the 3rd Faraday Discussion Meeting on Artificial Photosynthesis, Cambridge, UK, 25–27th March 2019. It aims to discuss the context for the research discussed at this meeting with an overview of the motivation for research on artificial photosynthesis and an analysis of the composition and trends in the field of artificial photosynthesis, primarily using the results of searches of publication databases.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 439-451
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD00076C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Photoinduced hole transfer from tris(bipyridine)ruthenium dye to a high-valent iron-based water oxidation catalyst
Fast visible light-driven water oxidation catalyzed by the FeIV cage complex relies on its efficient hole scavenging activity in the system utilizing [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a photosensitizer.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 162-174
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00167G
Mechanistic insights into C2 and C3 product generation using Ni3Al and Ni3Ga electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction
Systematic variations in catalyst structure and electrolyte isotopic labeling narrow down mechanistic possibilities for CO2 reduction using Ni–Group 13 electrocatalysts
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 192-204
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00177D
Influence of carbonaceous species on aqueous photo-catalytic nitrogen fixation by titania
We tested an emerging hypothesis that carbon species may play an integral role in catalyzing dinitrogen adsorption and reduction to ammonia.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 379-392
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00191J
Photo-generation of cyclic carbonates using hyper-branched Ru–TiO2
The photo-catalytic fixation of CO2 and epoxides for the photo-generation of cyclic carbonates (CCs) using Ru–TiO2 hyper-branched nanorods.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 407-421
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00181B
Utilising excited state organic anions for photoredox catalysis: activation of (hetero)aryl chlorides by visible light-absorbing 9-anthrolate anions
A novel photocatalytic concept based on photoexcitation of an organic anionic ground state catalyst for direct C–H (het)arylations using (het)aryl chlorides.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 364-378
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00176F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A kinetic model for redox-active film based biophotoelectrodes
Redox-active films are advantageous matrices for the immobilization of photosynthetic proteins, due to their ability to mediate electron transfer as well as to achieve high catalyst loading on an electrode for efficient generation of electricity or solar fuels.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 39-53
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00168E
Solar-driven carbon dioxide fixation using photosynthetic semiconductor bio-hybrids
Photosensitization of non-photosynthetic organisms by highly biocompatible gold nanoclusters achieves solar-driven carbon dioxide-to-chemical conversion. Further work explores cytoprotective materials and the photo-induced mechanism of charge transfer.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 54-65
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00187A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Z-scheme photocatalyst systems employing Rh- and Ir-doped metal oxide materials for water splitting under visible light irradiation
Z-scheme systems for water splitting were successfully developed by employing Rh- and Ir-doped metal oxides with SrTiO3:Rh and BiVO4 photocatalysts.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 313-328
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00209F
p-Type dye-sensitized solar cells based on pseudorotaxane mediated charge-transfer
We report the synthesis of dyes with recognition sites that facilitate pseudorotaxane formation and implementation into a p-type DSSC where the ring acts as a redox mediator.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 393-406
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00169C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Photocatalytically active ladder polymers
Post-polymerization ladderization is explored as a promising technique to boost the photo-catalytic activity of conjugated polymers.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 84-97
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00197A
Sequential catalysis enables enhanced C–C coupling towards multi-carbon alkenes and alcohols in carbon dioxide reduction: a study on bifunctional Cu/Au electrocatalysts
We employed the concept of sequential catalysis to design CuAu bifunctional catalysts for the selective and scalable reduction of CO2 to ethylene and ethanol.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 282-296
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00219C
A microfluidic photoelectrochemical cell for solar-driven CO2 conversion into liquid fuels with CuO-based photocathodes
Schematic representation of photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction set-up.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 329-344
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00192H
Tuning purple bacteria salt-tolerance for photobioelectrochemical systems in saline environments
Fast adaptation of Rhodobacter capsulatus to increasing salinities opens possibilities for photo-bioelectrochemical systems development for saline environments.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 15-25
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00160J
Performance of enhanced DuBois type water reduction catalysts (WRC) in artificial photosynthesis – effects of various proton relays during catalysis
A pincer type ligand provides an additional coordination site or a proton relay depending on the metal oxidation state.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 141-161
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00162F
A tandem photoelectrochemical water splitting cell consisting of CuBi2O4 and BiVO4 synthesized from a single Bi4O5I2 nanosheet template
A bias-free tandem photoelectrochemical water splitting cell consisting of a CuBi2O4 photocathode and a BiVO4 photoanode synthesized from a single Bi4O5I2 template.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 297-312
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00183A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Towards compartmentalized photocatalysis: multihaem proteins as transmembrane molecular electron conduits
We show a proof-of-concept for using MtrCAB as a lipid membrane-spanning building block for compartmentalised photocatalysis that mimics photosynthesis.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 26-38
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00163D
FexNi9−xS8 (x = 3–6) as potential photocatalysts for solar-driven hydrogen production?
The photocatalytic proton reduction is catalyzed by FexNix−9S8.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 216-226
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00173A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Computational high-throughput screening of polymeric photocatalysts: exploring the effect of composition, sequence isomerism and conformational degrees of freedom
We discuss a low-cost computational workflow for the high throughput screening of polymeric photocatalysts.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 98-110
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00171E
Visible light-driven water oxidation with a ruthenium sensitizer and a cobalt-based catalyst connected with a polymeric platform
A novel PS–WOC dyad which incorporates a ruthenium-based photosensitizer (PS) connected to a Prussian blue type water oxidation catalyst (WOC) through a P4VP platform is presented.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 111-122
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00166A
Light induced formation of a surface heterojunction in photocharged CuWO4 photoanodes
Photocharging of CuWO4 photoanodes enhances its water oxidation kinetics as a result of improved charge separation near the electrode/electrolyte interface post photocharging.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 175-191
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00179K
Iron phosphate modified calcium iron oxide as an efficient and robust catalyst in electrocatalyzing oxygen evolution from seawater
CaFeOx modified with electrodeposited FePO4 exhibits high activity and stability in natural seawater splitting.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 205-215
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00172C
Evaluating the impacts of amino acids in the second and outer coordination spheres of Rh-bis(diphosphine) complexes for CO2 hydrogenation
The influence of a biologically inspired second and outer coordination sphere on Rh-bis(diphosphine) CO2 hydrogenation catalysts was explored.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 123-140
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00164B
Distinguishing the effects of altered morphology and size on the visible light-induced water oxidation activity and photoelectrochemical performance of BaTaO2N crystal structures
The effects of altered morphology and size on the visible light-induced water oxidation activity and photoelectrochemical performance of BaTaO2N crystal structures were studied.
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 227-241
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8FD00170G
Synthetic approaches to artificial photosynthesis: general discussion
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 242-281
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD90024A
Demonstrator devices for artificial photosynthesis: general discussion
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 345-363
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD90023C
Biological approaches to artificial photosynthesis: general discussion
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 66-83
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD90026H
Beyond artificial photosynthesis: general discussion
Faraday Discuss., 2019,215, 422-438
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9FD90022E
About this collection
We are delighted to share with you a selection of the papers which will be presented at our Faraday Discussion on Artificial photosynthesis taking place in Cambridge, UK in March 2019. More information about the event may be found here: http://rsc.li/photosynthesis-fd2019. Additional articles will be added to the collection as they are published. The final versions of all the articles presented and a record of the live discussions will be published after the event.
Artificial photosynthesis is a process that converts solar energy into a renewable fuel, a so-called solar fuel. This rapidly developing and growing area addresses a global challenge of the 21st century: the transition from a fossil fuel-based to a sustainable economy. This field is cross-disciplinary, spanning biology and chemistry to physics and engineering, with physical chemistry at its core, essential to fundamentally understand the underlying processes that enable light absorption, charge separation and efficient redox catalysis.
This meeting will be the third edition in a series on this topic following Discussions in Edinburgh, UK in 2011 (see Faraday Discuss., 155) and Kyoto, Japan in 2017 (see Faraday Discuss., 198) and will discuss recent breakthroughs and contemporary challenges in the field. This Faraday Discussion meeting will bring together scientists with a broad set of expertise who will share knowledge and aim to find consensus on priorities in future development of artificial photosynthesis research.